Chieftain^® Wild Rice Company

VANILLA SUGAR

Description:
Vanilla Beans (Vanilla Planifolia) are the seed of the climbing orchid, originally from southern Mexico where they grow wild. When the Spanish arrived in Central and South America, the Aztecs were already using Vanilla as a flavoring agent for drinks. European entrepreneurs tried to establish commercial plantations in the far East from samples of the wild Mexican orchids. The initial attempts were unsuccessful due to lack of pollination. The solution was discovered on the island of Reunion, in the Indian Ocean. A slender piece of bamboo was used to lift away a membrane that allowed a worker to smear pollen bearing stamens against the pistils. This technique is still used today. Vanilla powder has a rich vanilla flavor carried by sugar granules. This product is water soluble and will go well with hot drinks and in recipes.

Suggested Use:
Vanilla is a gread addition to chocolate, coffee, ice cream, cakes, cookies, fruit desserts and most sweet dishes. Surprisingly, a small amount of Vanilla is good with certain rich dishes such as lobster and veal.